Traction-engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. S. HANSGOM.

TRACTION ENGINE,

Patented Jan. 9,1883.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. s .HANSOOM.

V TRAUTIONYENGINB. No. 270,308. Patented Ja1 1.9,1883.

' i m illll Wzfizsses.

I NITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE.

, ALBERT s. uAnsoon, F MOORHEAD, MINNESOTA.

TRACTIQ NHE-NGiN E- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 270,308, dated January 9, 1883.

Application filed August 3, 1882. (No model.) I

engine embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2

is a plan or top view.

partly in section. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of a portion of the tire of a drive-wheel with the track or chain in position thereon.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ four drive-wheels, A, two of which are so arranged that they can be raised or lowered at pleasure. Power is applied to the for ward drive-wheels by means of a chain, 0, that also acts as a track or road-bed for the forward and rear wheels to run upon, the object being to secure a broad bearing that will not be liable to sink into soft ground.

The drive-wheels A A on each side are connected by a horizontal frame composed of the bars B B, the rear ends of which are provided with bearings V V for the rear axle, T, which turns therein. The front axle, X, turns in blocks D D, which slide horizontally in the space between the bars B B, and are held in place therein by means of bars F F. VVithin the space iuclosed by the bars F and ends of the bars or lrames B are arranged spiral springs E E, which keep the track'chains (J G at a proper tension, whereby breakage of the said chains from encountering obstructions is obviated.

M is the main frame, swinging on the rear axle, T, at T7. At the forward end of this frame are vertical steam-cylinders K K. which are fillllvtl with hollow piston-rods H H, that pass through stuffing-boxes L L and carry pistons J J. At the bottom of the pistonrods H H, between them and the frames B, are

spiral springs G G, which surround the lower ends of rods 1 I, that pass through the hollow piston-rods. These rods I I are fixed to the Fig. 3 is an end view,

frames-B at Y Y, and are shouldered at their upper ends, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

N N are forward wheels for guiding the machine. These wheels are capable of being turned at pleasure by means of a pilot-wheel.

P, which is geared to thevertical center-pin O, as shown in Fig. 1.. In turning the engine 'steam is admitted into the lower ends of the cylinders K K by means of suitable valves, Z. Z, Fig. 3, that are controlled; by a lever, a,

so as to raise the piston-rods H H until they strike the shoulders forward on. the upper ends of the rods I I. The rods H and I, being thus raised together, will lift the forward drivers A A from the ground, so that by operating the wheels N through the pilot-wheel P the machine may be readily turned in the desired direction. ,NVhen turned sufficiently the wheels N N are fastened in line with the driving-wheels A A, and steam being admitted into the upper ends of the cylinders K will cause the forward drivers to be lowered. On admitting more steam to the upper ends of the cylinders the piston-rods H H are forced down, thereby compressingthe springs Gr G, and upon still more pressure being exerted 'on the pistons the forward end of the frame M, together with the guidingwheels N N, will be raised, thus throwing the entire weight of the machine on the driving-wheels.

'To the frame M may be fastened the boiler and engine used for propelling the machine, and the power may be applied to the-rearaxle, T, which is provided with ratchets S S, by means of any suitable chain or gear.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a traction attachment for road-engines, the combination of the driving-wheels A A, frames B B, track-chains O G, and tension-springs E E, substantially as shown and described. y

2. In a traction attachment for road -englues, the combination of the cylinders K K, piston-rods H H and I I, and spriugsG G for raising the guide-wheels and throwing the entire weight of the machine on the drivingwheels, substantially as described.

3. In a traction attachment for road -engines,-the combination of the driving-wheels guiding-wheels, whereby the entire weight of A A, connected by atrack-chain, 0, the frames the machine is thrown on the driving-wheels,

B B and M, axles 'I. and X, the sliding blocks substantially as shown and describe D D, bars F F, and springs E E for regulat- ALBERT S. HANSGOM, 5 ing the tension of the track-chain, the guid- Witnesses:

ing-wheels N, carried. by the forward end of the HORACE DE CAMP,

frame M, and means for raising said frame and MINNIE A. GOLTON. 

